The Jordan Kerfuffle

Opinion Journal (Wall Street Journal) ^ | 2-14-05 | The Editors

[RKV]

A Study in Scarlet - Arthur Conan Doyle

"Gregson and Lestrade had watched the manoeuvres of their amateur companion with considerable curiosity and some contempt. They evidently failed to appreciate the fact, which I had begun to realize, that Sherlock Holmes's smallest actions were all directed towards some definite and practical end. "What do you think of it, sir?" they both asked. "It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I was to presume to help you," remarked my friend. "You are doing so well now that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere." There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke. "If you will let me know how your investigations go," he continued, "I shall be happy to give you any help I can."

[tomswiftjr]

The MSM is getting the same kind of treatment that MDs have been getting for the past 20 years. They now know the blogosphere world of second guessing and where everyone is and can be an expert(more so than a J-school grad).

Wait until their paychecks drop, then you will hear real anguish!

[dirtboy]

Is that such a good idea, to fight against even people on the same political side as us? After all, this is about politics, no?

I see it as getting to the truth. If the WSJ wants to pretend that what Eason Jordan said wasn't a big deal, well, then they're the ones with the problem.

[jocon307]

"If he wants to believe in private that journalists were targeted, that's surely his right, no?"

No, it's not OK if what he believes isn't true. If I want to believe in little green men from the moon, or I decide to vote for whomever News of the World's Alien endorses for President, maybe that is one thing. But I'd think it would disqualify me from running one of the largest NEWS outlets in the world.

And if he has some reason beyond private musings or predjudice to think the American military DOES target journalists for death, he ought to come forward with it. I couldn't care less about the pantie wearing terrorists in Abu Grahib, but I would be HORRIFIED to hear our military were willfully killing journalists.

And as for the fight, well the WSJ started it. I'm amazed they don't consider themselves a part of the "new" media, but evidently they do not.

[Ann Archy]

Howard Kurtz's column on Sunday said that Easo Jordan was cheating on his wife with Marianne Pearl, widow of the beheaded Daniel Pearl.......John Podoretz also said it on the Hugh Hewitt show.

HH also said that Eason is a college DROPOUT......wonder what year he completed.

[hchutch]

Eason Jordan's admission that CNN had covered up for Saddam so as to be able to report from Baghdad was a biggie - and probably should have had him canned. In essence, he was saying CNN had cut a deal, and had compromised its integrity. But they couldn't can him without cries of "retaliation" - and so, they decided to wait for him to screw up.

Now, we fast-forward to this Marianne Pearl thing. Making the gossip pages like that ain't the sort of thing that reflects well on the network, but a guy's personal life isn't really something you can fire him over.

Now, you have this wild charge, which could affect CNN's ability to get tips and information from sources in the Pentagon. BINGO! Now you can ease him out, and ask him to resign "for the good of the network." The thing about his comments wasn't their nature, but on the effect it might have on CNN's ability to get stories from the Pentagon - and so, CNN had something that they could use to finally force him out.